Means for reducing condensation of steam in cylinders.



No. 696,635. Patented Apr. I, I902.

a. R. HARVEY.

MEANS FOR REDUCING CONDENSATION 0F STEAM IN CYLINDERS.

(Applicationflled June 22, 1901.)

(No llodel.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

2mm JMW y No. 696,635. Patented Api'. l, 1902. I a. R. HARVEY.

MEANS FOR REDUCING CONDENSATION 0F STEAM IN CYLINDERS.

(Application filed June 22, 1901-\ Tm: "cams rz-rzns c0. wcmmumo.v WASHINGTON, n. c.

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GEORGE ROY HARVEY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

MEANS FOR REDUCING CONDENSATION OF STEAM IN CYLINDERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 696,635, dated April 1, 1902 Application filed June 22,1901. Serial No. 65,653. (No model.)

To (DZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE ROY HARVEY, a subject of the King of England, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Means for Reducing the Condensation of Steam in Cylinders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention contemplates the use of a small portion of exhaust-steam to reduce cylinder condensation, and particularly that class of cylinders which are used in cottoncompresses. This utilization of exhauststeam is for the purpose of heating the cylinder to obtain the full expansive eifect of the live steam acting on the piston and to completely avoid condensation and a consequent deterioration of the propulsive effect of such live steam. In the present instance it is intended to employ the steam exhausted from one part of a compressing-cylinder as a heat ing medium and cause it to be drawn into said cylinder in part by the return stroke of the piston and on the reverse side of the latter or during the egress of a quantity of steam that has been expansively acting on the piston, and thereby create a suction or indrawing of such exhaust-steam. The parts are also arranged, particularly in connection with the upper side of the piston, to receive and hold the water of condensation, which may be drawn off at stated intervals.

This invention therefore mainly consists of means for permitting exhaust-steam to fiow in behind or above a piston and by the beneficial eifect derived therefrom materially save fuel or expenditure of steam and economize the use of such propulsive medium to such an extent as to also increase the efficiency of the parts in carrying out the work to be performed.

The invention also consists of the details of construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a transverse vertical section of a cylinder and piston and the parts coacting therewith embodying the features of the invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view of a slightly-modified form. 3 is a section on line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4C

is a detail view, partly in section, showing the interior construction of the exhaust-valves.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar numerals are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the views, the numeral 1, Fig. 1, designates the cylinder, which has circumferential horizontally-disposed ribs on the exterior surface spaced apart from each other and usually employed for receiving a wooden oranalogous jacket-or closure Eorwellknown purposes. Vithin the cylinder a piston 2 is movably mounted and connected to apiston or compression rod 3, extending downwardly through the bottom of the cylinder and through a gland 4 in the support. The cylinder 1 is supported on a table or support 5, having suitable legs, and the gland. is directly attached to this table or support.

Surrounding the cylinder 1, at a distance therefrom, is a sheet-metal jacket 6, which is connected at its upper end to the outer portion of a horizontal flange 7 at the base of a frusto-conical cap 8, having a manhole 9 in the top thereof. The lower end of the cylinder 1 is shown with an outturned annular flange 10, which is secured to the bottom plate 11 and is fitted directly in the upper face of the lower table or base-support 5. The jacket 6 completely surrounds the cylinder and has at its opposite sides an inlet-pipe 12 and an outlet-pipe 13. The inlet-pipe is substantially conical inform, with its greatest width located innermost, so that the steam will be admitted to the jacket or the compartment between the same and the outer surface of the cylinder in an unretarded manner and spread over a greater surface.

The inlet-pipe 12 has an elbow 14 connected thereto, to the lower end of which is connected a pipe 15, having its lower end c0nnected to the outer portion of an exhaustpipe 16, which is a branch of a pipe 17, extendingfrom theengine-boiler. (Notshown) A. second branch pipe 18 extends from the pipe 17 to a feed-water heater, and each of the pipes 16 and 18 is provided with an eX- haust-valve 19, which is opened and closed by mechanism of well-known form operated by suitable devices from the engine either directly or indirectly and at a time proportionate to the movement of the piston 2. The

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pipe 17 is connected in a suitable manner to the bottom of the cylinder 1, as shown.

The valves 10, located in the pipes and 18, are each made up of the chambers 19, having a valve-seat a formed therein, in which is seated a lifting valve Z), the stem of which projects slidingly through the top of the valve-chamber and is connected to an arm 0, pivotally supported on a standard d and op eratively connected to the usual levers adjacent to the engine, as is well known. A weighted tappet e is slidingly arranged in the overhanging head of the standard, which keeps the valve normally in its seat and returns it thereto after having been raised.

Connected to the exhaust-outlet 13 is a pipe 20, which may run away therefrom any suitable distance, and also in the side of the cap a suitable hand-hole 21 is located and properly covered.

The upper portion of the piston 2 is formed with a vertical annular flange 22, so that the water of condensation may be held on the upper face of the piston. The water of condensation accumulating on the piston may, be drawn off through a short drain-pipe 23, extending through the piston-pipe and having a valve 24 controlled by an elongated stem 25, having a turn-head 26. The piston is also provided with a packing-ring 27 of suitable material and applied in a preferred manner. At the bottom of one side of the jacket 6 is a drain-pipe 28 for carrying off the water of condensation that may collect in the lower portion of the space between the jacket and the cylinder.

The operation of the device is as follows: When the exhaust-valve 19 is opened, the piston 2 falls and steam from the space under the piston passes through the pipe 16 and into the space between the jacket and the cylinder and then passes around said cylinder and up over the top edge of the same and is finally exhausted through the outlet 13 and pipe 20. The suction caused by the falling piston 2 causes the space above the piston to fill with this exhaust-steam and also creates a drawing action on the said steam through the pipe 16 and 15 and inlet 12. The valve 19 in the pipe 18 permits the escape of only a small amount of steam to the feed-water heater, and the balance of the exhausted steam, which is usually Wasted, is entirely utilized for heating the cylinder 1.

In Fig. 2 the cylinder 1, cap 8, piston 2, and piston-rod 3 are similar to such parts as shown by Fig. 1. The bottom of the cylinder is also mounted on a lower table or support 5, and leading from the lower end of the cylinder is a set of pipes 16, 17, and 18, similar to those hereinbefore described and provided with exhaust-valves 19. To the outer end of the pipe 16 a pipe 29 leads off to any suitable distance, and connected with the pipe 16 is an exhaust feed-pipe 30, which runs upwardly and is attached to the cap 8 near the top of In this form of the device the the latter.

jacket is entirely dispensed with, The exhaust-steam is drawn through the exhaust feed connection 30 into the cap 8 above the piston, and the downward motion of the latter creates a suction, causing said exhauststeam to How behind and to feed the cylindei-. This is a simple form of the construction shown by Fig. 1. A drain-pipe similar to that shown in Fig.,1.extends through the piston and has a-va'lve and extended stem in convenient reaching distance to the handhole 21. The upper part of the cap 8 is also provided with a manhole 9, and all the remaining features of construction are like those heretofore described. In this device the water of condensation or moisture deposited from the steam falls into the upper recessed portion of the piston and the surplus water can be drained off through the medium of the drain-pipe 23, as will be obviously apparent. A portion of the exhaust-steam in this form of the device passes out through the conveying pipe or connection 29, as it will not all be drawn through the feed-pipe 30.

As previously indicated, this form of the cylinder and the attachments specified are intended for use with cotton-compresses, and all steam devices of this character now in use take steam only at one end of the cylinder, the other end being open to the air. The amount of cylinder condensation by the use of a steam-cylinder in such a manner as this is enormous. As the piston rises and falls the cylinder is alternately filled with steam and cold air, and the larger part of the steam first admitted before each stroke raises the temperature of the cylinder-wall to that of the steam. In the present form of the device the object sought is the reduction of cylinder condensation and the consequent economy in the expenditure of fuel. By the introduction of the exhaust-steam the cylinderwall becomes thoroughly heated and the successive introductions of such exhaust-steam Will maintain quite a high temperature. Under the old arrangement, the wall of the cylinder often became cold or at such a low degree of temperature that a very great amount of steam in excess of that actually necessary to operate the piston had to be used; but in the present device the amount of steam required to raise the piston for each stroke will be very much less, and as all the Work in compressing cotton is done while the piston is rising the heating attachment will result in a great saving of fuel. v

To suit various applications and to meet certain contingencies, it may be necessary at times to change the proportions, dimensions, and minor details of construction. When necessary, these changes may be resorted to without departing from the nature or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a device of the character described, a steam-cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, a

cylindrical jacket inclosing the cylinder and provided with a conical top extending above and over the cylinder, a live-steam pipe opening into the bottom of the cylinder, an exhaust-steam pipe leading from the steam-pipe to take steam from the cylinder below the piston and opening into the space between the jacket and the cylinder, a valve operatively interposed in the GXlIHJUSlJ'St-GPUII pipe, and an outlet-pipe opening from the jacket opposite to theinlet end of the exhaust-steam pipe.

2. In adevice of the character described, a steam-cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, a cylindrical casing, surrounding the cylinder and provided with a conical top extending above and over the cylinder, a steam-pipe opening into the bottom of the cylinder to conduct live steam therein, an exhauststeam pipe leading from the live-steam pipe adjacent to its entrance into the cylinder to take steam from the cylinder from below the piston and conduct it into the space between the jacket and the cylinder, a valve in the exhaust-steam pipe to control the passage of steam therethrough, and a branch pipe 18 extending from the live-steam pipe to a feedwater heater, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE ROY HARVEY. lVitnesses:

EDWIN P. YOUNG, HARRY J. NESBIT. 

